DAVID F. ROONEY
BC Forestry Minister Rich Coleman should admit that the increasing turmoil in the forestry industry is evidence that BC Liberal policies have been a failure, says Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.
“The BC Liberals have pushed the forest industry to complete collapse,” the New Democrat said during Question Period in the Legislature last Monday. “There are over 46 major wood-processing facilities that have been closed. There are over 20,000 forest workers that have lost their jobs under this government’s watch, 13,000 with this minister alone this year.”
Macdonald cited the case of Coe Newnes in Salmon Arm, a major manufacturer of high-tech sawmill equipment and Salmon Arm’s largest private employer, which laid off more than 100 workers.
“It’s not only loggers or millworkers who are losing their jobs,” Macdonald said. “The forestry crisis is also hitting the province’s high-tech sector. Coe Newnes in Salmon Arm is also in trouble. They’re going down with 110 jobs lost and 220 more jobs at risk. Will the minister admit today that BC Liberal forest policies have crushed BC’s most important industry?”
But Coleman was not intimidated.
“I think it’s time for you to be honest with British Columbians over there on the Opposition,” he replied.
“Be honest with British Columbians. Tell them the truth about the North American markets. Tell them the truth about the dollar. Tell them the truth about the changes in housing starts in the United States.
“Why don’t you tell the people the truth? Quit selling false hopes over there. The reality is that we’re doing everything possible to work with our forest sector, and we’ll continue to do so in the province of British Columbia.”